Utica Community Schools (UCS) announces resource room and special education teacher consultant Michael Satawa as the Teacher of the Year award recipient on May 20. 

“Mr. Satawa was so deserving,” principal Jared McEvoy said. “He’s an incredible human being, an incredible man and an incredible teacher, so I was very excited when I heard that he was going to be recognized as UCS Teacher of the Year. [It’s] very well deserved.”

Satawa earned the recognition because of exemplary service to his students,  by working with other teachers and the students’ families to help them achieve academic and emotional success throughout his 21 years of teaching, according to the district’s press release. Additionally, he provides students an opportunity to gain real world experience as the school’s Work Study Coordinator and previously led the girls’ basketball team to the MAC White Championships as their coach. 

“It’s great to be recognized by your peers and your colleagues and your students and parents for all the hard work that every teacher in the building puts in,” Satawa said.

In addition to the Teacher of the Year award, Satawa also received the opportunity to choose a vehicle lease of his choice by The Suburban Collection, which celebrates the 19th anniversary of their partnership with the Teacher of the Year program.

“[The award] means a little bit more this year because of all the different challenges we’ve been navigating through,” Satawa said. “It means even more this year because of how challenging this year was for all educators.”